Dr. Quiem's gaze snaps to the hobgoblin and he slowly pivots to meet his eyes, "Just a' bit of friendly concern, my boy. What do you have to say about him?"
Michael, Dim the Kobold looks at you with a look that even you realize is a look of disappointment. "Dim no think you no how this work." He turns to Donaar with an awe-struck look. "You clearly is boss. You pay Dim 3 gold, yes? Then Dim tell you what he knows, and he goes and enrolls in Academy. Becomes industrialist and employs his own janitors. MANY janitors." He trails off in thought.
At the Harpy's Beak
The hobgoblin smirks at Dr. Quiem's question. "I could say a lot about him. Not sure your concern is friendly though, strangers." He stands up, and you can see that, despite his age, he is still in pretty excellent shape and is probably a formidable fighter.
The sailors at the corner table stop their celebrating, and in anticipation of an upcoming fight, they loudly begin taking bets.
Dustyn
From what you know of hobgoblins and your own reading of this particular hobgoblin, you can tell he has no time for any sort of vagueness, equivocations, or attempt to obscure your purpose. He's likely to respect a more direct approach, or even more likely, if you are able to best him in some kind of contest.
Donaar had been observing the exchange between Michael and Dim. Contrary to his name, the kobold was actually being pretty smart. Information could be something very valuable. Is that not also what he had done at the Academy? He paid his tuition and in exchange the Academy imparted it's knowledge on him. Seeing the small kobold so eager to follow his footsteps as a student there, Donaar can't help but feel inclined to help him. 3 gold was a hefty sum, but Donaar had the chance that his parents paid his tuition for him, which seemed not to be an option for Dim. And so he had to be clever to pay his tuition, Donaar could respect that.
"Dim my friend, you've got yourself a deal. Here are three gold pieces to pay for your tuition. Now let's hope your information is worth it", Donaar says with a genuine smile.
Dustyn looks at the hobgoblin. “Because a certain Captain Thorntassle is paying to find the missing dwarf.” He scoops up the next beer he can find and pounds it. “Seems to me this place might not be anywhere to find him. Bunch of lightweights in here. I hear dwarves like their drinking companions a bit more able.”
The hobgoblin laughs and slams his massive orange fist onto the table. "You HAVE to be kidding, me, little human. It looks like a strong breeze could blow you over." He points to Dr. Quiem and Celianna and his laughter deepens. "Why, the little elf girl can't even handle a bloody water. And the dwarf ---" something in the Dr. Quiem's eyes seems to disturb the hobgoblin and he falls silent. Instead, the one-armed human speaks up.
"Oi, if you think you can take on Merbud the Fierce? You must be dreaming. I've got three gp on the Scourge of the Dwendalian Empire here." He reaches out to grab the hobgoblin by the neck, but Merbud shakes him off.
"I'll take any and all of ya. Rosie, do ya still have that bottle of that Halfling Black Rum Reserve in the back?"
Rosie, in the midst of collecting bets from the sailors smiles broadly. "You know I do, love. Just a tick."
"Three shots. If yer standing at the end of it, I'll tell you what you want to know."
(Dustyn, Dr. Quiem, and Celianna -- any of you are welcome to take the challenge. Its 3 CON saving rolls with DCs of 8, 10, and 15. If you complete the first and second round, you will become inebriated. If you fail a save...well, you'll see what happens. You can also place bets if you want. Merbud is the favorite at even money, but you can get 2:1 odds on Dustyn, 3:1 odds on Dr. Quiem, and due to her ordering water, 5:1 odds on Celianna).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Rosie places out an array of shot glasses, the Hobgoblin grabs the bottle -- which contains a black, ink-like substance that, as soon as the bottle is uncorked, you can smell-- and he pours three shots out.
Shot 1: 8
The hobgoblin stares at Dustyn while taking the first shot. After downing it, he smacks his lips. "Refreshing."
He grabs the second shot and tosses it back.
Shot 2:11
If anything, the second shot goes down even easier for the hobgoblin. Without a word, he grabs the third shot glass and tips it to his lips.
Shot 3: 8
He slams the third shot glass down onto the bar so hard the glass shatters. He grins at you all and with mock courtesy, he gestures with an open hand towards the bar. He appears a little unsteady, but otherwise seems unaffected.
The kobold's eyes go wide as dinner plates as Donaar drops the gold pieces into his hands. "Yes, Dim help now. Thank you, big dragon! Dim now go to Academy. Dim has brilliant ideas to nurture and grow into big business You will see! Dim will own Port Zoon." He drops his mop and clutches the money to his chest.
Seeing all of you watching him, Dim visibly forces himself back to the moment. "Oh yes. Sergeant Glassanvil. He dwarf, but he get lot of lady AND gentlemen favors. Elves, humans, gnomes, even a Lizard person one time. Dim no think Sergeant discriminate. Month ago, he brought halfling back to Keep. MEAN lady. She remind Dim more of elf, not of halfling. She keep coming back. Sergeant Glassanvil scared. He afraid she make big trouble. He have other things cookin'. Think he skedaddle so she can't find him."
Dim looks at you all, eager to see if his information helped. "Next time you see Dim, he be student. No more cleaning floors. Dim leave now!"
"See, you are much better at that than I am." Michael says with a nod. He then heads for the door out, wondering if they are after someone who has been taken, or just someone trying to get away and not wishing to be found.
An eyebrow raises upon hearing the information that had seemingly plopped into their laps. Already confirming what was suspected, if not providing a little bit of clarity. “Before you go Dim, how is the vermin problem in this wing of the building. You see rats or mice particularly around the dwarf’s chambers? Good luck on your studies, consider that an investment into the future of Port Zoom. Remember us when you become powerful and rich.”
As they make their leave from the kobold. “If we do find this man, maybe he deserves a conversation to get his side of the story. Maybe Thorntassle isn’t after him, more about saving face. Either way, useful.”
"Could be." Michael says with a thoughtful look on his face. "Still doesn't explain the list of names, or whom all of these others were that were meeting with this man we are after."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Rolls weren't manipulated -- I went in to adjust the bonus for the roll I was making and it rerolled -- I'm using the original result)
Harpy's Beak
Dustyn, its hard to describe the taste of the liquor you've just imbibed. You imagine if the barkeep Rosie wiped down the bar at the Harpy's Beak, cleaned the floor with the rag, and wiped the sweat off of her brow and then squeezed it into a shot glass, that would get close to the taste. Nevertheless, you drain the three shots just as quickly as Merbud does, elicting cheers from the entire room.
(You are now drunk. Until you sober up, you have advantage on charisma checks and cannot be frightened, but disadvantage on everything else.)
Merbud sways a bit on his feet and points a huge orange finger at you, jabbing you in the chest. His voice is slurred. "Reshpect. I like you human. Get ush another round. On me!" He looks at Dr. Quiem and Celianna. "Either of you want to *hic* finish the bottle?"
DMScreen
22
Celianna, you notice in the midst of the drinking contest that the Tabaxi seems to have slipped out of the tavern.
At the SentryKeep
Dim is absolutely offended at Wilkas's suggestion that there are rats in his wing of the keep. "No rats! Dim keep bedrooms clean. Rats in kitchen big time. Dim no clean kitchen. Dim's goblin friend Vossok clean kitchen. Nice goblin, but not good janitor. Commandant tell Dim he best janitor. Commandant be sorry to see Dim go." The kobold looks at his mop sentimentally for a moment.
Hearing your well wishes, Dim nods. "Dim remember you. After Dim become learned, he need investors. Give you opportunity. Get in on ground floor. Oh yes." After this display of capitalist entrepreneurial thinking, Dim rushes out of the Keep towards his new destiny.
Quiem takes the bottle out of the hobgoblin's hand and downs the rest of it in one go, then sets it down on the bar with a reverence bordering on comedic.
Roll: 7
He starts laughing as soon as the bottle hits the table, "Just answer the man's question lad," Dr. Quiem will also use the Invasive Thoughts action to develop a telepathic link with Merbud and speak to him privately. "Eee hee hee- Boo! Don't suppose you're more willing to open up in here?"
Seeing Dim run away, Donaar feels like his gold will realy help the goblin and can't help but smile to himself. Dim sounded like he already had some solid entrepreuneurial bases and the Academy would be able to build on this solid foundation.
"Well, looks like we learned all there was to learn here. I suggest we go join them and see if they were equally succesful."
The hobgoblin stumbles back, eyes wide as he hears Dr. Quiem's voice inside his head. Looking at the dwarf sorcerer in abject, drunken terror now, Merbud thinks, simply and meekly starts communicating telepathically with Dr. Quiem. "Ah!!!!. Okay, that halfling rum must be more powerful than I thought. You and yer friends are alright, dwarf. Wally was a good soldier, even if he liked the soft life a bit too much. Always fancied himself a bit above the common guard, but he had the brawn to back it up. He's been a bit depressed lately. Nervous, jumpy as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Last I saw him was two nights ago in here. He was in his cups, and I never seen him so down. Asked him what was wrong, and he said he had a big choice. Someone powerful wanted him, and they only way out was a bit of nasty business."
Then out of nowhere, he begins speaking the rest aloud, as though, drunkenly somewhere in his mind, he got confused between what he said aloud and what he communicated telepathically to Dr. Quiem.For Dustyn and Celianna, you hear this without any context or prelude.
"I told that bugger to toughen up. That nasty business shouldn't scare him. That he was a Shore Warden and if he couldn't handle it himself and then he deserved to get caught. Wally went out back for a piss a minute later and never came back. Figured he either grew some balls, or he got got. EIther way, haven't seen him since."
Dr. Quiem turns to the others, registering that they wouldn't have had context, "Sounds like our Wally got in to some trouble with the big leagues and wasn't liking the only way out." He turns back to Merbud, "I sum that up alright?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Corti- Warforged bard (Union!)
Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
Merbud, in his pickled state, nods irritably. "Aye, that'sh what I just said. People can't handle their liquor, I tells you." The hobgoblin reaches out to grab another drink from the bar, and promptly falls forward. Fortunately the human and the Tortle he was drinking with halt his fall and lower him carefully into his chair.
(Forgot to mention before, but Dr. Quiem, you also are inebriated at this point. For the next hour, same condition as Dustyn).
Rosie the tavernkeeper watches the chaos with a broad smile and turns to you all with a chuckle. "Well you lot brought some brightness into this hot, miserable day. What ol' Merbud said about Wally was right though, poor dear. Usually, he's in here flirting with anything that caught his fancy. We always said Wally had a type -- those what had a pulse and were breathing. Past month or so, though, I couldn't even get a smile out of him. I think he's done a runner. Wouldn't surprise me if he's halfway to the Port Damali by now."
On the Way to Scholar's Rest
As Donaar, WIlkas, and Michael make their way back to the Hammer Sphere and the campus of the Academy, quietly discussing what the three of you learned at the Keep -- Wilkas and Michael -- you get the sense that you are being followed. For the moment, you both notice quick little movements you see out of the corner of your eye, but when you turn around, whatever it is, its gone gone. You're fairly close to the Scholar's Rest now, the tavern owned and operated by the Academy. The Academy itself, a tall building that still seems dwarfed by the Temple of Moradin at the center of the District, is ahead of you as is the local branch of the Zhelezo Office, where you first met Captain Thorntassle.
Acting calmly and casually lowly talking to Michael “You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? I can peel off and wait, hopefully catch who or what it is and follow them as they follow you; or we can all split up. What do you decide be the best course of action?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Dr. Quiem's gaze snaps to the hobgoblin and he slowly pivots to meet his eyes, "Just a' bit of friendly concern, my boy. What do you have to say about him?"
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Corti- Warforged bard (Union!)
Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
Can I get an insight check on the hobgoblin to see if there’s a particular sort of answer the hobgoblin will react well/badly to?
Dustyn insight 20
Paladin - warforged - orange
(Wow, you guys are killing the rolls so far)
At Sentry's Keep
Michael, Dim the Kobold looks at you with a look that even you realize is a look of disappointment. "Dim no think you no how this work." He turns to Donaar with an awe-struck look. "You clearly is boss. You pay Dim 3 gold, yes? Then Dim tell you what he knows, and he goes and enrolls in Academy. Becomes industrialist and employs his own janitors. MANY janitors." He trails off in thought.
At the Harpy's Beak
The hobgoblin smirks at Dr. Quiem's question. "I could say a lot about him. Not sure your concern is friendly though, strangers." He stands up, and you can see that, despite his age, he is still in pretty excellent shape and is probably a formidable fighter.
The sailors at the corner table stop their celebrating, and in anticipation of an upcoming fight, they loudly begin taking bets.
Dustyn
From what you know of hobgoblins and your own reading of this particular hobgoblin, you can tell he has no time for any sort of vagueness, equivocations, or attempt to obscure your purpose. He's likely to respect a more direct approach, or even more likely, if you are able to best him in some kind of contest.
Donaar had been observing the exchange between Michael and Dim. Contrary to his name, the kobold was actually being pretty smart. Information could be something very valuable. Is that not also what he had done at the Academy? He paid his tuition and in exchange the Academy imparted it's knowledge on him. Seeing the small kobold so eager to follow his footsteps as a student there, Donaar can't help but feel inclined to help him. 3 gold was a hefty sum, but Donaar had the chance that his parents paid his tuition for him, which seemed not to be an option for Dim. And so he had to be clever to pay his tuition, Donaar could respect that.
"Dim my friend, you've got yourself a deal. Here are three gold pieces to pay for your tuition. Now let's hope your information is worth it", Donaar says with a genuine smile.
Removed 3 gp from Donaar's inventory.
Donaar Daardendrian - Draconblood Wizard 1 (Our Revels Now Are Ended)
Dustyn looks at the hobgoblin. “Because a certain Captain Thorntassle is paying to find the missing dwarf.” He scoops up the next beer he can find and pounds it. “Seems to me this place might not be anywhere to find him. Bunch of lightweights in here. I hear dwarves like their drinking companions a bit more able.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"HAHAHAHAHAHA."
The hobgoblin laughs and slams his massive orange fist onto the table. "You HAVE to be kidding, me, little human. It looks like a strong breeze could blow you over." He points to Dr. Quiem and Celianna and his laughter deepens. "Why, the little elf girl can't even handle a bloody water. And the dwarf ---" something in the Dr. Quiem's eyes seems to disturb the hobgoblin and he falls silent. Instead, the one-armed human speaks up.
"Oi, if you think you can take on Merbud the Fierce? You must be dreaming. I've got three gp on the Scourge of the Dwendalian Empire here." He reaches out to grab the hobgoblin by the neck, but Merbud shakes him off.
"I'll take any and all of ya. Rosie, do ya still have that bottle of that Halfling Black Rum Reserve in the back?"
Rosie, in the midst of collecting bets from the sailors smiles broadly. "You know I do, love. Just a tick."
"Three shots. If yer standing at the end of it, I'll tell you what you want to know."
(Dustyn, Dr. Quiem, and Celianna -- any of you are welcome to take the challenge. Its 3 CON saving rolls with DCs of 8, 10, and 15. If you complete the first and second round, you will become inebriated. If you fail a save...well, you'll see what happens. You can also place bets if you want. Merbud is the favorite at even money, but you can get 2:1 odds on Dustyn, 3:1 odds on Dr. Quiem, and due to her ordering water, 5:1 odds on Celianna).
As Rosie places out an array of shot glasses, the Hobgoblin grabs the bottle -- which contains a black, ink-like substance that, as soon as the bottle is uncorked, you can smell-- and he pours three shots out.
Shot 1: 8
The hobgoblin stares at Dustyn while taking the first shot. After downing it, he smacks his lips. "Refreshing."
He grabs the second shot and tosses it back.
Shot 2: 11
If anything, the second shot goes down even easier for the hobgoblin. Without a word, he grabs the third shot glass and tips it to his lips.
Shot 3: 8
He slams the third shot glass down onto the bar so hard the glass shatters. He grins at you all and with mock courtesy, he gestures with an open hand towards the bar. He appears a little unsteady, but otherwise seems unaffected.
Meanwhile, at Sentry Keep...
The kobold's eyes go wide as dinner plates as Donaar drops the gold pieces into his hands. "Yes, Dim help now. Thank you, big dragon! Dim now go to Academy. Dim has brilliant ideas to nurture and grow into big business You will see! Dim will own Port Zoon." He drops his mop and clutches the money to his chest.
Seeing all of you watching him, Dim visibly forces himself back to the moment. "Oh yes. Sergeant Glassanvil. He dwarf, but he get lot of lady AND gentlemen favors. Elves, humans, gnomes, even a Lizard person one time. Dim no think Sergeant discriminate. Month ago, he brought halfling back to Keep. MEAN lady. She remind Dim more of elf, not of halfling. She keep coming back. Sergeant Glassanvil scared. He afraid she make big trouble. He have other things cookin'. Think he skedaddle so she can't find him."
Dim looks at you all, eager to see if his information helped. "Next time you see Dim, he be student. No more cleaning floors. Dim leave now!"
Dustyn will do his best not to show any sign of inebriation even if he’s blitzed.
”Looks like a taste of home.” (Oh god why did I do this)
Con save 1: 12
He grim’s at the hobgoblin. “Oh no, I’m-“ and drinks the second.
Con save 2 23
”- Drinking something that tastes like you drank it first.”
and the third shot goes down the hatch
21
(holy crap!)
Paladin - warforged - orange
"See, you are much better at that than I am." Michael says with a nod. He then heads for the door out, wondering if they are after someone who has been taken, or just someone trying to get away and not wishing to be found.
An eyebrow raises upon hearing the information that had seemingly plopped into their laps. Already confirming what was suspected, if not providing a little bit of clarity. “Before you go Dim, how is the vermin problem in this wing of the building. You see rats or mice particularly around the dwarf’s chambers? Good luck on your studies, consider that an investment into the future of Port Zoom. Remember us when you become powerful and rich.”
As they make their leave from the kobold. “If we do find this man, maybe he deserves a conversation to get his side of the story. Maybe Thorntassle isn’t after him, more about saving face. Either way, useful.”
"Could be." Michael says with a thoughtful look on his face. "Still doesn't explain the list of names, or whom all of these others were that were meeting with this man we are after."
(Rolls weren't manipulated -- I went in to adjust the bonus for the roll I was making and it rerolled -- I'm using the original result)
Harpy's Beak
Dustyn, its hard to describe the taste of the liquor you've just imbibed. You imagine if the barkeep Rosie wiped down the bar at the Harpy's Beak, cleaned the floor with the rag, and wiped the sweat off of her brow and then squeezed it into a shot glass, that would get close to the taste. Nevertheless, you drain the three shots just as quickly as Merbud does, elicting cheers from the entire room.
(You are now drunk. Until you sober up, you have advantage on charisma checks and cannot be frightened, but disadvantage on everything else.)
Merbud sways a bit on his feet and points a huge orange finger at you, jabbing you in the chest. His voice is slurred. "Reshpect. I like you human. Get ush another round. On me!" He looks at Dr. Quiem and Celianna. "Either of you want to *hic* finish the bottle?"
DM Screen
22
Celianna, you notice in the midst of the drinking contest that the Tabaxi seems to have slipped out of the tavern.
At the Sentry Keep
Dim is absolutely offended at Wilkas's suggestion that there are rats in his wing of the keep. "No rats! Dim keep bedrooms clean. Rats in kitchen big time. Dim no clean kitchen. Dim's goblin friend Vossok clean kitchen. Nice goblin, but not good janitor. Commandant tell Dim he best janitor. Commandant be sorry to see Dim go." The kobold looks at his mop sentimentally for a moment.
Hearing your well wishes, Dim nods. "Dim remember you. After Dim become learned, he need investors. Give you opportunity. Get in on ground floor. Oh yes." After this display of capitalist entrepreneurial thinking, Dim rushes out of the Keep towards his new destiny.
Dustyn at the Harpy’s Beak
”Look, I’m here to ask about Wally. Do you know anything or not?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Quiem takes the bottle out of the hobgoblin's hand and downs the rest of it in one go, then sets it down on the bar with a reverence bordering on comedic.
Roll: 7
He starts laughing as soon as the bottle hits the table, "Just answer the man's question lad," Dr. Quiem will also use the Invasive Thoughts action to develop a telepathic link with Merbud and speak to him privately. "Eee hee hee- Boo! Don't suppose you're more willing to open up in here?"
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Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
Seeing Dim run away, Donaar feels like his gold will realy help the goblin and can't help but smile to himself. Dim sounded like he already had some solid entrepreuneurial bases and the Academy would be able to build on this solid foundation.
"Well, looks like we learned all there was to learn here. I suggest we go join them and see if they were equally succesful."
Donaar Daardendrian - Draconblood Wizard 1 (Our Revels Now Are Ended)
The hobgoblin stumbles back, eyes wide as he hears Dr. Quiem's voice inside his head. Looking at the dwarf sorcerer in abject, drunken terror now, Merbud thinks, simply and meekly starts communicating telepathically with Dr. Quiem. "Ah!!!!. Okay, that halfling rum must be more powerful than I thought. You and yer friends are alright, dwarf. Wally was a good soldier, even if he liked the soft life a bit too much. Always fancied himself a bit above the common guard, but he had the brawn to back it up. He's been a bit depressed lately. Nervous, jumpy as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Last I saw him was two nights ago in here. He was in his cups, and I never seen him so down. Asked him what was wrong, and he said he had a big choice. Someone powerful wanted him, and they only way out was a bit of nasty business."
Then out of nowhere, he begins speaking the rest aloud, as though, drunkenly somewhere in his mind, he got confused between what he said aloud and what he communicated telepathically to Dr. Quiem.For Dustyn and Celianna, you hear this without any context or prelude.
"I told that bugger to toughen up. That nasty business shouldn't scare him. That he was a Shore Warden and if he couldn't handle it himself and then he deserved to get caught. Wally went out back for a piss a minute later and never came back. Figured he either grew some balls, or he got got. EIther way, haven't seen him since."
Dr. Quiem turns to the others, registering that they wouldn't have had context, "Sounds like our Wally got in to some trouble with the big leagues and wasn't liking the only way out." He turns back to Merbud, "I sum that up alright?"
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Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
Harpy's Beak
Merbud, in his pickled state, nods irritably. "Aye, that'sh what I just said. People can't handle their liquor, I tells you." The hobgoblin reaches out to grab another drink from the bar, and promptly falls forward. Fortunately the human and the Tortle he was drinking with halt his fall and lower him carefully into his chair.
(Forgot to mention before, but Dr. Quiem, you also are inebriated at this point. For the next hour, same condition as Dustyn).
Rosie the tavernkeeper watches the chaos with a broad smile and turns to you all with a chuckle. "Well you lot brought some brightness into this hot, miserable day. What ol' Merbud said about Wally was right though, poor dear. Usually, he's in here flirting with anything that caught his fancy. We always said Wally had a type -- those what had a pulse and were breathing. Past month or so, though, I couldn't even get a smile out of him. I think he's done a runner. Wouldn't surprise me if he's halfway to the Port Damali by now."
On the Way to Scholar's Rest
As Donaar, WIlkas, and Michael make their way back to the Hammer Sphere and the campus of the Academy, quietly discussing what the three of you learned at the Keep -- Wilkas and Michael -- you get the sense that you are being followed. For the moment, you both notice quick little movements you see out of the corner of your eye, but when you turn around, whatever it is, its gone gone. You're fairly close to the Scholar's Rest now, the tavern owned and operated by the Academy. The Academy itself, a tall building that still seems dwarfed by the Temple of Moradin at the center of the District, is ahead of you as is the local branch of the Zhelezo Office, where you first met Captain Thorntassle.
Acting calmly and casually lowly talking to Michael “You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? I can peel off and wait, hopefully catch who or what it is and follow them as they follow you; or we can all split up. What do you decide be the best course of action?”